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Global investors have recently been forced to sift through mixed signals from macro data and markets.

Global investors have recently been forced to sift through mixed signals from macro data and markets. Chief among these discordant messages is the apparent dichotomy between softer inflation, lower yields and flatter curves, and falling oil prices on the one hand, and still solid global growth and firm risk sentiment on the other hand.
We remain generally optimistic in our global macro outlook despite these mixed signals. Supply-side factors, rather than a weaker demand outlook, underpin the fall in oil prices, and this is positive for growth for oil importers. The softening core inflation trend is due primarily to temporary factors, particularly in the US, and the uptrend should resume given the solid growth momentum.Indeed, our global growth outlook is little changed since the start of the year. We marked down US growth on lower odds of Trump’s policy agenda, but still expect deregulation and modest fiscal stimulus to support above-trend growth. This downgrade is compensated by upgrades to eurozone and China growth.
Our market views largely reflect this overall constructive tone: we are not concerned about the discordance between firming risk assets and falling rates; the normalisation of US and Europe rates should resume in coming months. In FX we have turned more positive on the euro but stay bearish sterling.
Our base case that political risk would not escalate is playing out. Moreover, the intervention to resolve ailing banks in Veneto is positive and lowers risk in Italy. The exception, as expected, is the UK, where the outcome of Brexit has become more binary: the risk of a soft Brexit has risen, but so has that of a crash Brexit.
David Folkerts-Landau, Group Chief Economist
Key pages this month:
P6 Mixed signals
P8 Oil less a concern for risk assets
P11 Flat US yield curve but low risk of recession
P17 Europe political risk not materialising
P23 Limited scope for further oil weaknessYou can access a two-page update of Deutsche Bank Research's views on g [more]

Markets have been on their toes since the correction that started at end-January. Listless trading certainly reflects this malaise: major equity indexes have not suffered another sharp selloff but nevertheless remain near their year-to-date lows. While fundamentals remain robust, geopolitics and trade war fears, concerns over slowing global growth, and idiosyncratic issues in the tech sector have all weighed. [more]

Robust, broad-based global expansion. Synchronised growth across regions and economies, in many cases at above-trend levels. We expect global growth to accelerate to +3.9% this year, marginally above 2017, as fundamentals remain supportive. We expect the US and eurozone to continue growing above potential, but do not anticipate any further acceleration. In China, we expect growth to slow, and are more worried about inflation and financial risks than consensus. 2018 should mark the peak of the current cyclical expansion; growth should decelerate from 2019. [more]

After a stellar 2017 and an even stronger January, risk assets have undergone a sharp pullback in the last week. Initially triggered by higher rates as markets repriced inflation expectations higher, the episode evolved into a technical spout of volatility exacerbated by programmatic strategies. The pullback is healthy, after a highly unusual stretch of market tranquility. [more]

This edition reviews the global macro outlook, with 2018 likely marking the peak of the current cyclical expansion. Read on for our views on the US macro outlook and the Fed, the eurozone and the ECB, China’s macro outlook and risks. Find also a summary of our views on key themes as well as on the different asset classes and the main macro and markets forecasts [more]

Happy holidays. This is what market sentiment feels like at the moment, with risk assets at or close to multi-year highs. Faster progress on tax reform bills in the US and the EU-UK exit deal provided the last positive catalysts. They add to a favourable backdrop of strong economic growth, increasingly supportive fiscal and regulatory policy, and tightening but still easy monetary policy. [more]

Unlike the last few years, this summer was relatively quiet. As markets look ahead to the rest of the year, the key theme will continue to be the major central banks’ tentative progress toward removing monetary accommodation. Investors have so far not priced in this outlook. Since the prospects for growth across all the major countries is better than it has been for some time it remains a puzzle why there hasn't been a greater sell-off in bond markets. [more]

As markets enter into the summer lull, it is useful to take a step back. The global economy is in better shape than it has been in several years. This has allowed other central banks to follow the Fed and gradually start their exit journey, a process that is a historic challenge given the unprecedented level of monetary accommodation. But with inflation still below target, a key part of the normalisation puzzle is still missing. [more]

Politics remain a key focus for markets, but the latest developments in Europe are positive. In France, the first round of the presidential election ruled out the least market-friendly ‎outcome, and although eurosceptic Marine Le Pen is in the run-off as expected, polls suggest reformist Macron should win. The snap election called in Britain for June is a material positive game-changer for Brexit negotiations. [more]